Tamper



Match 11, 1941. E. R. PQRTER TAMPER Filed March 21, 1939 Patented Mar. 11,1941

UNITE Application March 21,

l @laim.

The present invention relates to earth tampers adapted to be operated manually or by any suitable reciprocating motor.

It is an object of the present invention to pro- 5 vide an earth tamper in which the handle is se cured to the tamper head through an articulate connection which allows the tamper head to conform to the contour of the earth being tamped, thus eliminating the danger of breakage of the handle under certain operating conditions, as for example, in tamping fills of mixed earth and large stones.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an earth tamper which may be used convenientl in corners or along the edges of an excavation or other inaccessible portions.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of an earth tamper head having an adjustable universal connection with its handle.

These and other objects of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein I have il1ustrated specific preferred embodiments of my invention by way of example, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side View partly in section of a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a section taken on line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view partly in section of a modiiication, and

Figure 4 is a section taken on line lib-IV of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the improved earth tamping apparatus comprises a tampin'g head I which may be a casting of any suitable construction, and, as shown, comprises a rectangular flanged head i having a flat tamping face 2. Reenforcing ribs 3 extend diagonally on the top surface of the flange and merge with the central body portion l. Preferably integral with the central body portion is a central cylindrical boss 5 which is threaded on its exterior and has an approximately spherical socket ii therein adapted to receive a ball i. Ball 1 is welded or otherwise suitably secured to a rod 8, which is suitably secured to the handle ti, as shown, and rod t fits into hollow handle a and is secured thereto by welding or in other manner. If desired, the ball I and rod 8 may be formed integral.

A retaining collar it has a bore it therein through which passes the rod 5, and the collar has an approximately spherical internal shoulder It adapted to engage the ball "5. Collar ll is internally threaded and threads upon the boss 1939, Serial No. 263,147

(Cl. 3il67) 5 and thus serves to retain the handle and tamper body in assembled relation, and it may be locked in any desired adjustment by a set screw M.

The operation of the apparatus now will be described. It will be apparent that the ball and 5 socket connection of the handle to the tamper body i permits a universal movement between the handle and tamper body, and by threading the retaining collar H upon the boss of the tamper body, the ball l is clamped between the col- 1 lar and boss with a pressure that may be regulated by the extent to which the collar is threaded upon the boss. Thus, by suitable adjustment the articulate connection between the handle and tamper body may be made rigid enough to hold the tamper head against movement relative to the handle by its own weight and enable the tamper to be used for its, intended purpose, and yet the connection will be yieldable enough so that the angular relationship between the handle and tamper face may change upon impact of the tamper with an uneven surface to permit proper tamping action without danger of breakin the tamper handle. lhe articulate connection also relieves the body 25 of all shock when impact is made with the surface to be tamped, and the tamper automatically faces the material to be tamped, thus making it unnecessary for the operator to tarnp at an angle. Although I have shown a tamper handle designed to be manually operated, it will be understood that the tamper may be operated by a pneumatic reciprocating hammer or electric reciprocating hammer, if desired.

In the modification shown in Figures 3 and 4, the articulate connection is obtained in a somewhat different manner. In this modification the tampirn', bod comprises a flange l5 having a flat tamping face it and upstanding ribs H integral with a central body portion in, which has lugs is extending therefrom with apertures 2B there- The body portion has a substantially spherical socket 2| therein and a ball 22 is received in the socket 2i and is Welded or otherwise suitably secured to a handle A retaining plate M has an opening 25 surrounded by a recess or depression to and the handle extends through the opening so that ball 22 is engaged in the depression in plate M. The body and handle are held in assembled relation with the ball 22 in the socket 2i by means of retaining plate 24 which is held in position by means of two bolts ll extending through the apertures til and having nuts is threaded on the outer ends. Coil springs 3i are interposed between the plate 24 5 and lugs [9 around the bolts and serve to prevent the nuts working loose.

In this modification the articulate joint formed by ball 22 between the handle 23 and tamper body 8 may be adjusted by threading the nuts 29 upon bolts 21 so that the ball 22 is held with the desired clamping action in its seat.

While I have shown a ball and socket joint between the handle and tamper head, it will be apparent that the invention may be incorporated in other specific forms or embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope thereof.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In an earth tamper comprising a massive tamper bod having a tamper surface adapted to be impacted against the material to be tamped and a handle for operating said tamper, means comprising a ball and socket joint between said handle and tamper arranged to provide limited movement for frictionally coupling the handle to the tamping head to hold the head in relatively fixed position relative to the handle when the tamper is not in operation and providing for accommodation of the head to irregular surfaces to be tamped upon impact of the tamper head against the material to be tamped.

EDVI'IN R. PORTER. 

